Improved mail-bag- fastening



i gitana' gatmti J. A. TRUITT, or OAKL AND,` PENNSYLVANIA,

Letters Patent No. 89,447, dated Apr-il 27, 1869.

INIPROVED MAIL-BAG- FASTENING.

*wh-v AThe Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent end making part of the same.

To all whom Iit may concern:

Be it known that I, J. A. TRUITT, of Oakland, in the county of Armstrong, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail- Bag Fastening; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable Vothers skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this spec-itication.

This invention relates to improvements' in devices for fastening mail-bags, the object of which is to pro` vide asimple and cheap device, which can be operated more quickly than those at present in use.

It consists of a sliding chain, arranged in one part of `the bag, capable of receiving the staples of the fly through its links, and provided with a staple in each link, which will, when the said chain is drawn transversely of the bag, engage each of the said staples of the Hy, and thereby fasten the two parts together.

Figure l represents a plan view of the top of a mailbag, secured by my improved fastening;

Figure 2 represents a sectional view, taken on the linexxoffig. 1;

Figure 3 represents a view of the chain; and

Figure 4 represents a section on the line y y of fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The part A, to which the fly B is attached, is provided with a transverse groove, or channel, for the reception of the chain C, seen in iig. 3, which is capable of sliding to and o therein, and provided with rings D at each end, for convenience in moving it either way.

The links of the chain are sutciently broad in their transverse direction for the reception of the staples E, as shown in iig. 4, which are rigidly secured to the y, slots being formed in the parts A, A1, and-A2, opposite the said staples for the passage of the same.

Each link of .the chain C is provided with a staple, F, which will engage one of the staples E, when the chain is drawn laterally in the right direction, after the said staples E have been passed through the links of the chain.

The link at that end of the chain where the lock is applied is made long enough to receive two staples, but the staple E of the ,said link engages only one, and the other E', which is the outermost staple on the locking side, is secured by the liasp of the lock. It falls into or passes through the link at the moment the chain arrives at the end of the lateral movement in securing the other staples, and bears against the end H of the said long link, preventing the chain from being drawn back, until the shackle of the lock is withdrawn, and the staple E disconnected.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- .lhe chain O, constructed vas described, and combined with the part A of the bag, and the staples E, substantially as specified.

' J. A. TRUITT.

Witnesses:

P. G. HETRIC,

H. H. KNEss. 

